Hearing yet again about the harm of HCAs (heterocyclic amines) and PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) would be a Debbie Downer before a Spring gathering of friends in front of the grill, right?

So instead of boring “shoulds” and “should nots” , we invited an expert guide this Spring, to present options, so that we can make our own decision how to reduce harmful habits without making smoked meats part of our no-no list.

For an audio version of this article, click below for our pilot Google Hangout on Air, broadcast recorded live.

SmartyFella Denet Lewis prefers a baked yam over a modest helping of white rice after a hard workout to replace glycogen stores. Why? For the taste and the higher nutrition density. Why is our SmartyGirl ally talking to us about The Truth About Carbs by Nate Miyaki? Because the scientific community has learned more about what keeps us healthy and new information about agricultural practices that affect our food supply, reducing the consumption of carcinogens, and battling seasonal allergies with more outdoor exercise since our last visit with Denet Lewis in May 2013.

Photo Credit: SpaceGirlOrganics Maggie Purple Sweet Potato

3 Easy Ways to Reduce Cancer-causing Effects of BBQ Foods

1. Remove the skin of the smoked meat after grilling

2. Marinate the meat with a fresh squeezed lemon/lime juice before putting over charcoal

3. Dip the raw meat in a beer bath before exposing it to open flame

We met with competitive bodybuilder, fitness tv host and scientist Denet, by phone on Friday afternoon before our weekend barbecue. Here’s what he had to say paraphrased below.

What is the top health news story for SmartyFella Denet in 2015?

Denet Lewis is concerned with the use of herbicides such as brand name Roundup to ripen non genetically modified (GMO) food crops for grains such as wheat. Yes, you read that right: herbicide to ripen wheat. You may already be aware of the effect of pesticides on the food you buy. The use of this herbicide has its upsides: as a mass agricultural practice this allows the wheat harvest to ripen at the same time and produces heavier wheat. However, this use of herbicide kills the root of the plant. SmartyFella Denet is wary of this herbicide in his food supply so he suggests eating grain-free, gluten-free or organic.

Photo Credit: Amazon.com Nate Miyaki’s The Truth About Carbs

What nutrition fact would you like to share with our readers that you have learned in the past two years?

It’s acceptable to enjoy a treat of white rice after a hard work out. You need to replenish fuel for your muscles after glycogen depletion. To quantify what makes a lean-muscle building hard work out, see the previous link by AskMen.com.

Many SmartyGirls and SmartyFellas carry tissues because of seasonal Spring allergies. Any exercise advice for severe allergy sufferers? We miss the outdoors.

Caution: please go to your doctor first. This is not substitute for medical advice but you might have a holistic alternative to antihistamines. However, Denet Lewis consulted his doctor because he has allergies too. It shows in a runny nose after a warm up and lifting weights. Denet believes that pressing through with exercise, increases blood circulation, which in turns improves the clearing of his sinuses. It might be as simple as accepting that you will need to blow your nose.

Photo Credit: High Five Fitness TV Facebook Denet Lewis as BMX Kid

Denet Lewis has been a lifelong SmartyFella from solar car building to BMX racing. Subscribe to the High Five Fitness YouTube channel for daily motivation! Until his next visit, he reminds us how gemstones are made. A diamond is the birthstone for April. It is formed only in extreme pressure and heat over time. Take the stress and pressure in your life to form and grow yourself. Use knowledge, passion and drive and get motivated. Underneath that rough stone is a rare, unique and most beautiful diamond just waiting to be polished, just waiting to shine.

It may surprise readers that L’Honey Beekeeper Rick Samym of Tacoma and Sno-Isle Food Co-op Marketing and Outreach Coordinator Erin Treat of Everett share a common cause. Don’t let Mr. Samyn’s beekeeper veil distract you. Though Rick is caretaker of winged creatures, both he and Ms. Treat are influencing people to eat seasonally, organically and locally.

Photo Credit: Sno-Ilse Food Co-Op

Both Rick Samyn and Erin Treat share a farming background. She studied environmental conservation, food and farming as a college student. He was in farming before he became a beekeeper. Therefore Rick pays attention to what’s in bloom as habitat for the honeybee. Which flowers will be good nectar producers for his bees? Changes in nature, temperature and rainfall matter. Dry seasons mean hungry bees. Rick models simple ways people can co-exist with bees and help themselves in food sourcing. Thoughtstarter? Wait until evening to mow the grass. Allow the clover to grow on your lawns. Allow the bees to harvest nectar from the clover before they return home to the hive. Wait until sunset to mow: people and bees win.

Likewise Sno-Ilse Food Co-op Erin Treat advocates easy ways people can relax and really enjoy eating. She says, Eating decisions are not a morality. Imagine that eating has no good, bad, right or wrong. Joy comes from eating good food and sharing with friends and family.”

Erin grew from not knowing how to cook and relying on pre-packaged, frozen Lean Cuisine meals to experimenting and engaging with local grains. She invites those who attend the many cooking classes at Sno-Ilse Food Co-op to consider eating what they want, when they want. Need an example?

What’s a typical workweek menu for Erin? Eating what she wants, when she wants means that breakfast might be sushi or bacon and eggs. Lunch might be a salad or sandwich. Dinner can be fast ramen with a bunch of vegetables thrown in. Alternatively, dinner could also be pork tenderloin, roasted brussel sprouts and local honeyboat squash. This squash is distinctive to the Everett area and one of her favorites.

She calls this “complete freedom” with food. Sound good? Wonder how you might make feeding friends and family affordable? “Food is something that nourishes you and brings love” says Erin Treat. The Food Co-op has a variety of teachers for classes that teach kale cookery to eating better on a budget. Add that to your smoothie-making! The Kickstarter cookbook, Good and Cheap, downloadable for free makes eating on $4/day feasible.

This doesn’t just empower SNAP benefits recipients but everyone can prosper by learning how source, select and store bulk grain/spices/produce. The wealth of nutrition comes from “utilizing those pieces in a finished meal you enjoy,” says Erin.

Before you think harvesting from the year-round kale forest that is Everett is the only way to achieve wellness in Washington, consider how taking beekeeping classes taught by Rick might lower your blood pressure. Rick Samyn says that there is zen to beekeeping. Though the bees might not be able to distinguish him from another human as a dog might differentiate his pet owner, bees can read body language. If the human approaches with deliberate, gentle movements the bees remain calm. If rash, rough movements are made to rip open the beehive, then the creatures become upset.

Sweeten your demeanor and you might harvest sweeter kale. Sweetness, by being in the moment and patient can reward you with the less bitter kale that grows in winter. Fun fact provided by Erin Treat: the freeze creates sweeter kale though kale is available year-round.

There, of course, are costs to a lifestyle change. Perhaps spirulina in your fresh pressed, organic juice might take some getting used to. Likewise having a new beekeeper’s immune system adjust to a few low-dose stings is up to the tolerance of the individual.

Curious about beekeepers and “venom therapy”? Get your answers when we upload on-camera videos of both Erin Treat and Rick Samyn’s interviews. Who is our guest reporter? SmartyFella Patrick Rodriquez, a photographer from our #filminwa adventures!

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